[HCRA] Fwd: BIG E Space Chat is a “Go” on September 27, 2022

[Larry Krainson]

Hundreds of The Big E attendees and spectators will be able to watch
students make a live contact with an astronaut aboard the International
Space Station (ISS) from The Big E Arena on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
Hams who bring an official copy of their FCC license on the day of The
Big E Space Chat will receive free admission for themselves and up to 3
members of their family and friends (see Instructions for Free Admission
below).

NASA Astronaut Bob Hines, KI5RQT, will contact the students via a radio
link provided by amateur radio ground station ON4ISS in Belgium. The
contact is organized through Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS). Around a dozen New England young people have been
selected to participate in The BIG E Space Chat.

Please plan to arrive in time for the pre-contact program, which begins
at 1:20 pm ET on Tuesday and will feature a series of videos about
space, NASA, ARISS, going to Mars, and more. Pre-contact program
speakers will include:

•       Gene Cassidy, CEO of the Eastern States Exposition
•       David Minster, NA2AA, ARRL CEO
•       Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, ARRL Director – New England Division
•       Bob Phinney, K5TEC, NEST President


Instructions for Free Admission

Parking and walking to The BIG E arena will take a little time, so be
sure to get there early. The arena will hold well over 1,000 people. The
BIG E is helping publicize the event and is arranging for TV coverage
for the program and the contact. Help us get the word out!

The Big E free admission for amateur radio operators and up to three
guests (maximum 4 people) is good on Space Chat Day (Tuesday, Sept. 27)
only.

•       You must present an official copy of your FCC license to the Gate
Captain at The Big E pedestrian gates 1A, 1B, 4, 5, 7, or 9A to receive
free admission on Space Chat Day.
•       Visit http://www.arrl.org/obtain-license-copy for instructions on
downloading a copy of your FCC license to print and bring with you.
•       Parking is not included.
•       The Big E is at 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, Massachusetts.

If you’re attending The Big E, visit the amateur radio booth (#103)
inside Door 6 of the Better Living Center for more information. Be sure
to spread the word to your friends and fellow radio club members!

You can download and print The Big E Brochure and a Fairgrounds Map.
Both are available at https://www.thebige.com/p/generalinfo/bigeinfo.

Can't come to The BIG E on Space Chat Day?  We will be streaming the
contact live over the Internet as it happens. Check out the contact live
stream YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdxnD8uF8t0 .


For up to date information about Space Chat @ The BIG E, please visit
https://nediv.arrl.org/big-e-space-chat .

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ARRL New England Division
Director: Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
ab1oc at arrl.org
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